The call for giga presses is getting louder: companies in the plastic injection molding and light metal die-casting sectors are developing ever larger and more complex machines to meet the new requirements for the supply of components from various industries. This affects the entire value chain upstream. Foundries such as Krefeld's Siempelkamp Giesserei are needed for the production and availability of the extremely thick-walled structural components required for the high-tech machines within this value chain. Therefore, they are also noticing the changes.
"Whether in the aerospace industry, consumer electronics or the automotive industry – the machines used for the production of state-of-the-art components from these industries are becoming more and more complex and gigantic. As a result, our customers' requirements for the structural components they need are also becoming more demanding," says Dirk Howe, Managing Director of Siempelkamp Giesserei. "It is both our aspiration and our commitment to always respond to the new requirements of machine builders and to provide custom-fit casting solutions."
The development becomes clear above all in the example of electric mobility. Driven by the need for sustainable mobility, there is still a high demand for electric vehicles. Automotive companies are using highly complex light metal die-casting structures for the production of these instead of laboriously assembling a large number of individual parts. As a consequence, this leads to an enormous increase in efficiency and saves weight, costs and time. However, light metal die-casting solutions would be inconceivable without the massive structural components made by foundries especially Siempelkamp, which can withstand the greatest of loads.
"The impressive plates, which we cast in our foundry for highly complex horizontal presses, can achieve a final raw casting weight of over 150 tons. Only with the help of our maximum tough castings the high-tech machines can form corresponding components with a pressing force of up to 11,000 tons," says Dr. Georg Geier, also managing director of Siempelkamp Giesserei. "With our expertise and know-how in casting, we are actively shaping the future in this way. Therefore, our daily motivation is: Advantage through casting – casting is our passion."
From June 4 to 6, Siempelkamp Giesserei will be attending CastForge – the trade fair for castings and forgings with processing – as an exhibitor.
